Villagers educated on child abuse

Dumani Moyo Sunday News Reporter
CHILD labour has become rampant in rural Gwanda amid revelations that children under the age of 15 are being forced to abandon school and do menial work for some people in the area, Sunday News has heard.

Self Help Development Foundation regional training officer Mr Enos Maphosa challenged the Gwanda community to send children to school and lessen cases of child abuse.

“We have heard so many cases of child abuse in this area. I believe that from this discussion, everyone who is here should be working towards eradicating these cases. We understand that some children are being employed at 14 years and are not economically benefiting from their employers. Instead, these employers should rather give their employees a chance to go to school and pay fees for them. This way physical abuse and economic injustice to the children will be avoided,” said Mr Maphosa, while speaking during the Self Help Foundation of Zimbabwe talk show launch in Gwanda.

According to villagers, more than 20 children in Gwanda’s Ward 14 have been victims of sexual and physical abuse.

Nhlamba village head Mr Joshua Mpisi said he had heard of some child abuse cases in his area.

“I have heard of some child abuse cases here and there. Whenever I hear of the case, whether it is of sexual or physical abuse, I call both the guardian and the child to talk to them about the issue before it goes to the police,” said Mr Mpisi.

During the talk show, villagers could present their experiences and question traditional leaders and gender experts on child abuse.

A villager who only identified herself as Miss Ncube said she had an employee of school-going age but was not abusing him.

“I have an orphan working for me. I took him from his family members after noticing that he had nothing to do in his life. I ask him to do normal work at home. I do not force him to overwork and I treat him as my child. I think what is wrong is not to give the child food while others are eating,” she said.

However, the acting development officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mr George Dube, said the villagers should not force children to go and look for jobs at a young age.

“We know that some people force children to look for jobs at the expense of their education. The best way forward is that the employer should make sure that he or she sends the child to school instead of giving them a salary,” Mr Dube said.

Ward 14 councillor Mr Phineas Maphosa said the village heads should play a crucial role in preventing child abuse cases.

“The village heads know their people very well. They are the ones who should monitor the situation in their villages. I think the best way is to capacitate them so that they would be motivated to keep an eye on what happens to the children,” he said.